JP2713502B2 - Optical fiber feeding device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement in an optical fiber feeding device. In particular, the present invention relates to an improvement for the purpose of improving workability and productivity of drawing an optical fiber in an optical fiber feeding device directly connected to an optical fiber manufacturing device.

[Prior Art] The term "optical fiber" refers to an optical transmission line in which a core wire composed of a double cylinder of quartz having an outer diameter of 125 mm is coated with a plastic coat having a thickness of about 60 μm.

 Optical fibers have the following unique properties.

I. Because it is very thin, it is extremely lightweight and breaks easily.

B. Bending with a small radius of curvature (called micro-bending) causes radiation loss of light and reduces the transmission efficiency of the optical fiber.

C. In the case of a metal wire, the transmission loss of the optical fiber increases and the transmission efficiency of the optical fiber decreases only by applying a tension that is considered normal.

To manufacture an optical fiber, a quartz double-column preform (called a preform) having a diameter of 20 to 60 mm is melted in a melting path, and a core of an optical fiber having a diameter of 125 μm is manufactured through a die. Subsequently, the outer periphery of the core wire is coated with a resin in a resin coating tank to produce an optical fiber having a diameter of 250 μm. This optical fiber is paid out by a capstan. When the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus described above is used, an optical fiber having a long length, for example, about 100 km is continuously manufactured from a single preform, and it is particularly important that the optical fiber cannot be stopped halfway. For this reason, it is necessary to continuously wind the manufactured optical fiber. Therefore, conventionally, an optical fiber feeding device is directly connected to the above optical fiber manufacturing device, and a traverse or an optical fiber winding bobbin is arranged downstream of the optical fiber feeding device to form a continuous winding system. I came.

Hereinafter, an optical fiber feeding device according to the related art will be described with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a guide pulley for introducing the optical fiber 10 into the optical fiber feeding device, and reference numeral 2 denotes a guide pulley for guiding the optical fiber 10 from the optical fiber feeding device. It is. Reference numeral 3 denotes a dancer roller tension control means including a fixed pulley 31, a moving pulley 32, a swing arm 33, a pivot 34 of the swing arm, a reference tension deviation detecting means 35, and a guide pulley speed control means 36.

Next, the operation of the conventional optical fiber feeding device will be described.

The optical fiber 10 introduced into the feeding device by the optical fiber introduction guide pulley 1 is used as dancer roller pulleys 31 and 32.
Is wound out of the feeding device by the guide pulley 2 for leading out the optical fiber.
When the tension of the optical fiber 10 fluctuates during winding of the optical fiber, the dancer roller pulley 32 moves upward or downward,
Based on this movement, the swing arm 33 rotates about the support shaft 34. When the tension of the optical fiber 10 deviates from the range of the reference tension, the rotation angle of the swing arm 33 reaches a specific angle, and the reference tension deviation detecting means 35 detects this and outputs a signal S. In response to the signal S, the guide pulley speed control means 36 controls the speed of the guide pulley, for example, the guide pulley 1 for introducing an optical fiber.

However, since the optical fiber 10 is continuously fed from the above-mentioned optical fiber manufacturing apparatus to the feeding apparatus at a considerably high speed (several hundred m / min), at the beginning of the winding operation, the operation is performed from the optical fiber manufacturing apparatus. The leading end of the optical fiber 10 must be grasped, and the optical fiber 10 must be suspended (referred to as wire hanging) on the guide pulley for introduction, the fixed pulley for the dancer roller, the moving pulley, and the guide pulley for derivation without delay.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, as described above, the optical fiber allows only a weak tension due to its transmission characteristics, so that the optical fiber cannot be pulled with a sufficient force in the initial state of the optical fiber when it is wound. Requires considerable skill. In particular, in the optical fiber feeding device according to the prior art, the moving pulley for the dancer roller is on the floor surface before being lined, and is swingable. There is a disadvantage that the working efficiency is significantly reduced.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned drawbacks,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber feeding device which can improve the workability and productivity of drawing an optical fiber at the beginning of winding the optical fiber.

[Means for solving the problem]

The above object is to provide an optical fiber introducing guide pulley (1) for introducing an optical fiber, an optical fiber leading guide pulley (2) for leading the optical fiber, and a condition that the tension of the optical fiber is within a range of a reference tension. , The speed of the guide pulley (1) for introducing the optical fiber or the guide pulley (2) for guiding the optical fiber is controlled to maintain the tension of the optical fiber within the range of the reference tension. In the optical fiber feeding device having the dancer roller tension control means (3), the dancer roller tension control means (3) is achieved by an optical fiber feeding device having dancer roller fixing means for fixing the dancer roller.

In the above configuration, whether the dancer roller fixing unit is a unit that suppresses rotation of a support shaft of a swing arm of the dancer roller or a unit that suppresses swinging of a swing arm of the dancer roller. The effect is particularly remarkable when the above-mentioned means for fixing the dancer roller is used.

[Action]

According to the present invention, the dancer roller in the optical fiber feeding device is fixed. It is based on technical ideas that cannot be considered from the established concepts of those skilled in the art. In the optical fiber feeding device according to the present invention, the moving pulley for the dancer roller is fixed at a height with good workability by the fixing means only at the time of the wire hanging work at the beginning of winding, and immediately after the wire hanging is completed, the above-mentioned fixing means is used. Is released, and the original operation of the dancer roller is performed. As a result, the difficulty of the wire-laying operation is eliminated, and the productivity can be improved without lowering the feeding function of the optical fiber feeding device.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an optical fiber feeding device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment (corresponding to claim [2]) Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an optical fiber guide pulley for introducing the optical fiber 10 into an optical fiber feeding device, and 2 denotes the optical fiber 10 described above. Is a guide pulley for sending out an optical fiber, which is derived from the optical fiber feeding device. Reference numeral 3 denotes dancer roller tension control means. Numeral 31 denotes a fixed pulley constituting the dancer roller tension control means 3, and 32 denotes a fixed pulley.
It is a pair of moving pulleys. Reference numeral 33 denotes a swinging arm which supports the moving pulley 32 at its tip and rotates about a support shaft 34. Reference numeral 35 denotes a reference tension deviation detecting means for detecting when the tension of the optical fiber 10 deviates from the range of the reference tension and outputting a signal S. Reference numeral 36 denotes a guide pulley speed control means for controlling the speed of a guide pulley, for example, the guide pulley 1 for introducing an optical fiber, in response to the signal S. Numeral 4 denotes a dancer roller fixing means according to the gist of the present invention, and in this embodiment, means for suppressing rotation of the support shaft 34 of the swing arm 33 of the dancer roller. The above-mentioned dancer roller fixing means 4
Is composed of, for example, a fixed arm 41 and a rotating body 42 with a groove. The fixed arm 41 has a protrusion at its tip, and rotates around a support shaft 45. The above-mentioned grooved rotor 42 is the above-mentioned swing arm.
The fixing arm 41 has a groove that is fixed to the support shaft 34 and into which the protrusion of the fixed arm 41 is inserted. The position where the groove is provided is a position where the protrusion of the fixed arm 41 is inserted when the movable pulley 32 is placed at a height at which the workability of laying the optical fiber is good.

Next, the operation of the optical fiber feeding device according to the present embodiment will be described.

The optical fiber 10 introduced into the optical fiber feeding device by the guide pulley 1 for optical fiber winding is wound at least one turn on the pulleys 31 and 32 for dancer rollers, and is then led out of the feeding device by the guide pulley 2 for guiding the optical fiber. You. When the tension of the optical fiber 10 fluctuates during the winding of the optical fiber, the dancer roller moving pulley 32 moves upward or downward, and based on this movement, the swing arm 33 rotates about the support shaft 34. When the tension deviates from the range of the reference tension, the rotation angle of the swing arm 33 reaches a specific angle, and the reference tension deviation detecting means 35 detects this and outputs a signal S.
In response to the signal S, the guide pulley speed control means 36 controls the speed of the guide pulley, for example, the guide pulley 1 for introducing the optical fiber, and as a result, the moving speed of the optical fiber 10 is controlled and the tension of the optical fiber is controlled. Maintain the reference tension range.

Prior to the start of winding of the optical fiber, the dancer roller moving pulley 32 is lifted, and the protrusion of the fixed arm 41 of the dancer roller fixing means 4 is inserted into the groove of the grooved rotating body 42, and If the movable pulley 32 is maintained at a height at which the workability of wire-wrapping the optical fiber is good and the winding is started, the wire-wrapping work at the beginning of winding can be executed very efficiently.
After the completion of the hooking, if the protrusion of the fixed arm 41 is separated from the groove of the grooved rotating body 42, the dancer roller performs its original function.

In addition, without using the above-mentioned grooved rotating body 42,
It is also possible to provide a groove directly in the groove.

As means for suppressing the rotation of the support shaft 34 of the swing arm 33 of the dancer roller, an electromagnetic brake (not shown) is attached to one end of the support shaft 34, and a moving pulley is provided before the winding of the optical fiber is started. By holding the 32 at a desired height and exciting the electromagnetic brake, the rotation of the support shaft 34 may be suppressed.

Second Embodiment (corresponding to claim [3]) This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the dancer roller fixing means is a means for suppressing the rotation of the support shaft in the first embodiment. However, in this embodiment, it is only a means for suppressing the swing of the swing arm. Therefore, the description of this embodiment will be made only for the dancer roller fixing means.

2a and 2b.FIG. 2a is a front view of the dancer roller fixing means, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2a.

In the figure, reference numeral 5 denotes a dancer roller fixing means according to the gist of the present invention, and includes, for example, a fixing arm 51 and a hole 52 formed in the swing arm 33. The fixed arm 51 has a protrusion at its tip, and rotates around a support shaft 55. The projection of the fixed arm 51 is inserted into the hole 52. The position of the hole 52 is a position at which the protrusion of the fixed arm 51 is inserted when the moving pulley 32 is placed at a height at which the workability of laying the optical fiber is good. Descriptions of other symbols are the same as those in FIG.

Prior to the start of winding of the optical fiber, the dancer roller moving pulley 32 is lifted and the dancer roller fixing means 5 is lifted.
Inserting the projection of the fixed arm 51 into the hole 52, keeping the movable pulley 32 at a height that allows good workability for wire-drawing, and starting winding, the wire hooking at the beginning of winding is performed. The work can be performed very efficiently. After the completion of the hooking, if the projection of the fixed arm 51 is detached from the hole 52, the dancer roller will perform its original function.

Third Embodiment (corresponding to claim [4]) This embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that:
In the present embodiment, only the dancer roller fixing means is a means for fixing the dancer roller. Therefore, the description of this embodiment will be made only for the dancer roller fixing means.

3a and 3b.FIG. 3a is a front view of the dancer roller fixing means, and FIG.
The figure is a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3a.

In the figure, reference numeral 6 denotes a dancer roller fixing means according to the gist of the present invention, which comprises, for example, a fixing arm 61 and a hole 62 formed in the moving pulley 32. The fixed arm 61 has a projection at its tip inserted into the hole 62, and rotates around a support shaft 65.
The position of the hole 62 is a position where the protrusion of the fixed arm 61 is inserted when the movable pulley 32 is placed at a height at which the workability of laying the optical fiber is good.

The effect of the operation of the dancer roller fixing means 6 in this embodiment is the same as that of the second embodiment, and the description is omitted.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the optical fiber feeding apparatus according to the present invention, the dancer roller tension control means controls the dancer roller fixing means for fixing the dancer roller, for example, the means for suppressing the rotation of the support shaft of the swing arm of the dancer roller, and the swing of the dancer roller. Since there is a means for suppressing the swing of the moving arm or a means for fixing the dancer roller, the above-mentioned dancer roller fixing means allows the dancer roller to be easily wired with the optical fiber before the winding of the optical fiber is started. Since it is possible to fix the wire, it is easy to wire the wire at the beginning of winding. In addition, since the above-mentioned fixation of the dancer roller can be released after the completion of the wire-laying operation, the original function of the dancer roller is not impaired.

Therefore, the present invention can provide an optical fiber feeding device which can improve the workability and productivity of wire-drawing the optical fiber at the beginning of winding the optical fiber.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to claim [2]).
It is a lineblock diagram of an optical fiber feeding device concerning. FIG.
It is a front view of the dancer roller fixing means of the optical fiber feeding device according to the second embodiment (corresponding to claim [3]) of the present invention. FIG. 2b is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2a. FIG. 3a shows a third embodiment of the present invention (corresponding to claim [4]).
FIG. 5 is a front view of dancer roller fixing means of the optical fiber feeding device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3a. FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an optical fiber feeding device according to the prior art. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Guide pulley for introducing optical fiber, 2 ... Guide pulley for leading out optical fiber, 3 ... Dancer roller tension control means, 31 ... Fixed pulley, 32 ... Moving pulley, 33 ... Swing arm, 34
… Support shaft, 35… Reference tension deviation detection means, 36… Guide pulley speed control means, 4, 5, 6… Dancer roller fixing means, 41, 51, 61… Fixed arm, 42… Rotation with groove Body, 52
・ 62 ... hole, 45 ・ 55 ・ 65 ・ ・ ・ support shaft, 10 ・ ・ ・ optical fiber.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] An optical fiber guiding guide pulley for introducing an optical fiber; an optical fiber guiding guide pulley for guiding the optical fiber; and a tension of the optical fiber deviating from a reference tension range. Then, the speed of the guide pulley (1) for introducing the optical fiber or the guide pulley (2) for guiding the optical fiber is controlled to maintain the tension of the optical fiber in the range of the reference tension. The optical fiber feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the dancer roller tension control means (3) includes dancer roller fixing means for fixing the dancer roller. 2. The optical fiber feeding device according to claim 1, wherein said dancer roller fixing means is means for suppressing rotation of a support shaft of a swing arm of said dancer roller. 3. The optical fiber feeding device according to claim 1, wherein said dancer roller fixing means is means for suppressing the swing of a swing arm of said dancer roller. 4. The optical fiber feeding device according to claim 1, wherein said dancer roller fixing means is means for fixing said dancer roller.